MAAA Wingspan

14 In the five short years that the New South Wales Free Flight Society have owned the West Wyalong flying field, they are on the cusp of achieving their goal - to have a flying site that caters for all disciplines of model flying. This has come about by the amazing support the Society have had frommany different people and in many different forms. To start at the beginning when they were given the property by Adrian Bryant, they had about $50,000 in the NSWFFS account. This money was spent mainly on the camping ground facilities in the form of ablution blocks and plumbing as well as shade next to the RC strip. The house five years ago was in a derelict condition, but it was somewhere to go in bad weather for a cup of coffee. The Society soon realised that with a little work, which they could do with minimal cost, what a great asset it would be for socialising after flying. With this in mind, the Society members went about tidying up the house to make it respectable. Not a lot of money was spent here, it was mainly labour done by the NSWFFS, like replacing floor coverings, painting and a new ceiling in the dining room. Furniture came frommany different sources and the house became a great social venue. “When people realised what we were doing and we were serious about it, support started to come in many different forms. We were given the great John O’Donnell’s model library,” said NSWFFS Secretary, Roy Summersby. “This is an enormous collection of books and magazines. What would have been originally the second bedroom in the house was turned into, what is most likely, the world’s best aeromodelling magazine collection. This presented another problem, it had to be kept dry. “The seventy-year-old roof was in very bad shape, so a fundraising scheme was put in place to replace it. We estimated that it might take two years to achieve the $20,000 cash that would be needed. “Flyers had faith in us, and this was achieved, and the work was finished in just eight months. All this was from cash donations made by enthusiastic modellers who could see the future in what we were doing. We have had other material donations in the form of windows, doors and a water heater at shall we say are very good prices. We do thank you for your support. NSW Free Flight Society DREAM BECOMING A REALITY